Warehouseman&#39;s container



Aug. 29, 1961 H. c. STRICKER, JR

WAREHOUSEMAN'S CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 F115 -7 INVENTOR.

H. C, STR/CKEFZ \TR.

Aug. 29, 1961 H. c. STRICKER, JR

WAREHOUSEMAN'S CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 f i I I a I i INVENTOR. H.0 $'TE/CKER \l z.

Aug. 29, 1961 H. c. STRICKER, JR 2,998,156

WAREHOUSEMANS CONTAINER Filed Sept. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "Flt-5-11 2,9983% Patented Aug. 29., I961 Fic 2,998,156 WAREHOUSEMANS CONTAINER Henry C. Stricker, Jr., Edgerton, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Highway Trailer Industries, Inc, Edgerton, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 15,1958, Ser. No. 761,189 9 Claims. (Cl. 220- 15) This invention relates to containers and primarily to containers in which goods are shipped from place to place under conditions that involve relatively rough handling and during which time the containers may be exposed to moisture in one form or another, making it desirable of course to exclude such moisture from entering into the interior of the container in such a manner as to make the containers particularly useful for shipping household and similar goods therein. Such containers may aptly be called warehousemans containers.

More specifically the containers contemplated hereby are intended to be used repeatedly under all kinds of shipping and storage conditions.

Containers of the class described are preferably provided with adequate means to seal the same yet facilitate access thereinto, still retaining sufi'icient rigidity to withstand abuse usually associated with the type of handling to which the containers are subjected.

Heretofore the desirable attributes which are suggested above have not all been provided in any single container, one or another usually being missing.

Further since shipment of the containers is generally by vessel, stacking is mandatory and means to maintain alignment of stacked containers is required. These means are preferably built-in and yet should not interfere with normal positioning of containers where stacking is not necessary.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a container which is rigidly constructed, while providing for re-shipment and preventing the entry of moisture thereinto when closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel inst-rumentalities which will provide for maintaining the general alignment of the containers with other containers when in stacked relationship.

A further object of the invention is to avail of the instrumentalities for maintaining alignment as means for lifting or shifting the containers.

Yet another object of the invention is to arrange the alignment maintaining instrumentalities in such a manner that containers embodying the same will rest upon flat surfaces and when in proper position above a similar container have parts which will inter-engage therewith to maintain the containers in aligned condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide alignment maintaining instrnmentalities which will include elements for lifting the containers, other of said instrumentalities comprising locking elements to coopcrate with the lifting elements, such elements being pivotally connected to the container, to effect the desired maintenance of alignment.

Another object of the invention is to provide lockingelements which are automatically positioned for carrying out their function and do not interfere with the normal positioning of the containers on a supporting surface.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top View of a container embodying the invention hereof.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of such container.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of a container showing fragmentarily other containers above and below the same.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, largely in section showing certain details of the alignment maintaining instrumentalities.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view largely in section showing certain of the alignment maintaining instrumentalities specifically the instrumentalities denoted lift lugs.

FIGURE 6 is a fragrnementary view taken about on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE *8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing certain of the locking instrumentalities for the doors provided.

FIGURE 1&1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 1111 of FIGURE 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 12--12 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Turning now to a consideration of the drawings, the container hereof is illustrated therein as being of generally rectilinear configuration, including top and bottom, sides and ends, all of the same being constructed of metal preferably so as to provide for rigidity and being reinforced in a special manner and arranged so far as th inter-engagement of the respective parts so as to exclude the entrance of water in any form thereinto.

Generally speaking as will be more particularly described hereinafter, the container shown in the various views is adequately reinforced so as to be moved from place to place without distortion and for that purpose novel instrumentalities are provided which instrumentalities likewise make possible the positioning of one container with respect to another.

To the foregoing ends, therefore, the container as shown in FIGURE 2 for example as to the side wall thereof, is comprised of a smooth sheet such as 1 outside of which may be suitably fastened, the stakes including the three central vertical stakes 2, 3, and 4 which stakes are fastened to the side wall 1 in any preferred manner as by welding with the angularly positioned stakes 5 and 6 arranged so as to provide bracing. All of the stakes are hat-shaped in cross section as shown in FIGURE 12 and are connected to the sidewall such as 1 as by welding at various points such as indicated at 7, both of the flanges 8 of the stakes being similarly fastened as will be readily appreciated.

The front wall of the container is not shown in detail but is similarly constructed, the stakes such as any one of 2, 3 or 4 being generally vertically arranged in respect to such front and the front likewise of course including a smooth sheet inside of the stakes. The construction previously generally described is preferable in order to make possible storage of as much material within the container as possible and further facilitate the arrangement shown in FIGURE 12 involving the stakes wherein means for tying the goods which are shipped in the container to prevent shifting, are provided in the form of transversely extending bars 9 fixed in the stakes at various locations. The bars 9 are accessible through openings such as 10 provided in the wall '1 for example, the opening 10 being formed by pressing out the portion as indicated at 11. The portion 11, lying closely against the inside of the stake will thus not cause chafing of ropes used to tie articles in the container. Any moisture or water which may enter the interior of the stake such as 2 will not in turn enter the interior of the container because of the portion 11 but will run down to the bottom of the stake and pass out through a suitable drain opening such as 12 as indicated in the said FIGURE 12 just now described. It will be understood that a number of these tie-down openings will be provided in the interior walls of the container and readily accessible for use.

Further describing the construction of the container, it will be noted that each of the corners is provided with a post, the front corners being illustrated in FIGURE 9 as each including a composite or built-up post composed of a generally U-shaped metal member 13, including the inner side 14, the outer side 15, and a transverse connecting member 16, the outer member 15 being of somewhat greater width than the side 14.

The edge of the wall 1 is bent at right angles to provide a relatively narrow flange 1a, which is crimped as at "1b to position the adjacent edge of the side 14.

The front wall is secured to the side wall as at 20a by skip welding, said front wall being additionally fastened by spot welding as indicated at 21 and one of the flange portions 24 thereof to an angle member 22 the other flange portion 25 being in turn connected by plug welding as at 23 to the wide side 15 of the member 13. Thus a rather labyrinthine arrangement is provided, which Will substantially exclude moisture from entrance into the container at the front wall corner thereof. It will of course be understood that the other end of the wall is provided with a like post 13, similarly formed and connected thereto.

At the rear corner of the container, a somewhat similar form of post is provided by a rectilinear tubular post such as denoted at 26, which includes the inner side wall 27, the outer wall 28, and the wall 29 and a corresponding wall 30 opposite the latter. The wall 27 of this post 26 is somewhat wider than the wall 28 and secured as by skip welding at 31 to the wall 30 whereby a rigid post is provided. The post as a whole is thereupon connected as by skip welding at 3'2 and spot welding at 33 for example to the wall 1 in such a manner that said wall is thereby provided with great rigidity at the corners. A hinge pin 35 for a door 36 (see FIGURE 8) is fastened at top, middle, and bottom adjacent the post 26 and of the wall 27 so as to likewise present a labyrinthine arrangement and in conjunction with a seal such as 37 suitably fastened to the door jarnb 38 and compressed by the door 36 between the jamb portion 38 of the door and wall 1 adjacent the post 26 precludes moisture from entering the container when the doors are in closed condition.

The opposite post to that denoted 26 will be a duplicate thereof and the doors, as viewed in FIGURE 11 denoted 36 and 39 have a peculiar inter-engaging arrangement which will now be described. The door 36 is equipped with a flange portion 48 extending outwardly therefrom, which portion 40 is in turn equipped With an angular member 41 suitably fastened thereto and extending about as shown in FIGURE 11.

The door 39 includes the outwardly extending portion 42 at its edge adjacent the corresponding edge of the door 36 with the further transversely extending portion 43 and an inwardly turned edge 44 equipped with an 7 angle 45 adapted to co-act with a suitable gasket 46 atmember 48 which enters a suitable opening 49 in the header 50 over the door opening. In this case the latch member 48 is equipped with a flange 51 affixed thereto and moveable upwardly and downwardly therewith, which flange 51 is in turn provided at 52 with a transversely extending plate, on the upper surface of which plate is suitably fastened a gasket 53 which of course rises and falls with the latch member 48 as the arm 54 shown in FIGURE 3 is raised and lowered so as to cause the toggle action of the member 47. It will be understood of course that a similar latch 48 is provided at the bottom and enters into the sill in a similar manner although it is not ecessary to provide the seal such as 53 because of the overlapping nature of the outer faces of the doors with regard to such sill. It will be understood of course that the arrangement of the seal 53 is such that when the latch member 48 is fully engaged in the opening 49 the seal will be compressed and moisture will be excluded from entering into the container.

Certain of the very important novel constructional features of this container will now be described as relating to the instrumentalities which are generally called alignment maintaining instrumentalities and more particularly shown in certain of the details in the drawings as being provided in the containers so as to not only maintain the alignment of the said containers but likewise to provide for lifting the same and positioning them where desired.

Turning therefore to a consideration of FIGURE l again, it will be seen that the top of the container is provided with a channel 55 at one end and 56 at the other, the channel 55 being identical to the channel 56 and therefore only being discussed particularly hereinafter.

At each end of the channel 55 is mounted a lift lug 57, which lift lug 57 is pivotally connected to the channel 55 by means of a pivot member 58, the lug being in the form of a generally rectangular member having the pivot section 59, an opening 60 therein, which opening may be round or any other preferred shape and a stop section 61 generally angularly related to the body of the lug 57 for purposes which will be apparent as this description proceeds.

The lift lug is arranged on the pivot 58 so that it will engage a stop 62 when in raised position, nearly vertical, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the lug tending normally to fall into the dotted line position shown in said figure and rest upon a rest member such as 63, such member 63 being provided merely as a means to facilitate raising the lug into the upper position for connection to any lifting apparatus as by a sling with a hook thereon in accordance with the practice readily understood by those skilled in the art.

FIGURE 6 illustrates in somewhat greater detail the arrangement of the lift lug 57 as respects a face view thereof so to speak and the connection of the lug to the channel 55 which latter channel of course is connected to the body of the container in any suitable manner.

It will be apparent of course that lift lugs such as 57 are provided at each corner and arranged in identical manner so as to normally lie within the channel and thus present a clear planar area for the top of the container. The lift lugs of course may be raised into the position of FIGURE 5 by manual manipulation and engaged with the hooks of slings or the like for raising the container and moving the same from place to place. When the hooks are disconnected the lugs will fall back into the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 5 preferably so that there is no need to manipulate the same into that position but such position is automatically assumed.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGURES 3 and 4 primarily, the lock lug of the container is now to be described, there being one of these lugs at each of the four corners and as illustrated in FIGURE 5 mounted in a saddle such as 65 suitably connected to the bottom of the container and pivotally related thereto by the pivot 66, the lug in this case being denoted 67 and there obviously being one for each corner of the container similarly mounted. The pivot portion 68 of the lock lug 67 is arranged in the saddle 65 so that the lug itself is provided with an angularly formed section 69 extending from the mounting section 70, the end 71 of the lug 67 being angularly positioned as respects the portion 69.

It will be understood that the portion 69 of the lug 67 will drop downwardly below the skid portion 72 of the body of the container so that the same will be below the lower most surface of such skid as denoted at 73 and when containers are stacked as illustrated in FIG- URE 3 and fragmentarily in FIGURE 4, the surface 71 of the lock lug 67 will be in juxtaposition to the portion 61 of the lift lug 57 corresponding thereto, the lift lug 57 in this case of course resting within the channel 55. The fact that the lock lug 67 drops downwardly by gravity into the channel, will prevent the longitudinal movement of the container and of course transverse movement will be obviated by engagement of the surface 71 with the portion 61 of the lift lug 57. This arrangement being found at all four corners of the container will thus maintain alignment of containers stacked as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and facilitate such stacking without the necessity for any manual manipulation, actually being an automatic inter-engaging when the con tainers are properly positioned with respect to one another whereby the lock lugs may drop downwardly into the channel 55 and thus assume their actual operating position.

Since it is often necessary to support the containers on flat surfaces or other surfaces which demand greater support than the lock lugs themselves would provide as they are of relatively small surface area, as to the portion extending downwardly at 69, the skids 72 are provided and the pivoting action of the lock lug 67 is such that the same will respond to any surface which is in the plane of the bottom 73 of the skids 72 so as not to interfere with the support of the containers on such skids. When the containers are lifted the lugs 67 will of course automatically assume the position shown in FIGURE 4 and other lock position in FIGURE 3, extending downwardly below the plane of the lower most portion 73 of the skid 72 to carry out their interlocking function.

It will of course be understood that by reason of the fact that the lift and lock lugs in this construction are pivotally movable into positions where they will not interfere with the positioning of the containers with respect to other containers, or upon other surfaces, it will be decidedly advantageous where it is necessary to stack the same on other containers or other types of containers which are not necessarily equipped with the lift and lock lug arrangement provided herein.

The container hereof will preferably be provided with suitable lift ports such as illustrated in FIGURE 2 at 75 and in FIGURE 3 at 76, which lift ports are provided for the purpose of fork lift trucks to manipulate the containers. The lift ports 75 are shown in enlarged detail in FIGURE 7 as to the arrangement of the same and construction of the container at that particular point reinforced for support of the heavy load which the container will usually contain.

In view of the foregoing description, the advantageous construction provided for a container will obviously be susceptible of incorporation into containers of various sizes for various purposes, which may primarily be overseas shipping but may obviously be used for other purposes where it is desired to stack the containers and where moisture is harmful to goods contained therewithin.

I claim:

1. In container construction of the class described, in combination, a generally rectilinear body comprised of top, bottom, side and end members, lift lugs having means connecting the same to the top member to facilitate movement of said lugs into position for engagement by lifting means, lock lugs mounted at the bottom of the body, means connecting the lock lugs to the bottom of the container to facilitate movement of the lock lugs into positions adjoining the lift lugs of a container located therebeneath, said first mentioned container being thereby positioned to prevent shifting movement.

2. In container construction of the class described, in combination, a generally rectilinear body to receive goods for transport therein, lift lugs having means connecting the same to the top of the body, to facilitate movement of said lugs into position for engagement by lifting means, said lift lugs having stop portions, lock lugs mounted at the bottom of the body, means to connect the lack lugs to said bottom, said lock lugs having stop sections, said stop portions and stop sections being self-positioned for abutment to prevent shifting of bodies when similarly constructed bodies are stacked one above the other.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lift lugs each include a body having a portion movable into position to extend above the top surface of the container body for engagement by lifting means, and to a position below the top surface of the body for engagement by the lock lugs.

4. Container construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lock lugs each include a body movable so as to extend below the bottom of the body to engage the lift lugs of a container body positioned therebeneath.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top of the container includes recess portions in which the lift lugs are pivotally connected whereby the same are swingable above and below the top surface.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lock lugs are pivotally mounted at the bottom of the container body, supporting means at said bottom, said lock lugs being swingable below the plane of the supporting means for engagement with the lift lugs of a container body positioned therebeneath.

7. In container construction of the class described, in combination, a hollow container body constructed so as to receive goods for transport therein, movable lift means connected at the upper portion of the body, and lock means connected at the lower portion of the body including means to facilitate movement of the lack means into position to engage the lift means of a container body positioned therebeneath. n

8. Container construction as claimed in claim 7, Wherein the lock means are gravity operated, being movable above their lowermost extent by contact of a portion thereof with a plane surface upon which the container body is supported.

9. Container construction as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lift means are located in recesses, and the lock means are swingable into such recesses when similar container bodies are stacked one on another, said recesses likewise facilitating the positioning of such container bodies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

